Reigate GC in Surrey is to close later this year after the Tiley family, who have run the business for 35 years, announced they had sold the site to a housing developer earlier this month.
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Klondyke plans to close Sycamore Park as 3 more centres are set for re-development

February 12 2018, by George BullivantM

Klondyke is to close Sycamore Park Garden Centre if planning permission for housing is granted. Moreton Hall is due to re-open partially, shortly, with other developments to follow.
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After a promising start 2017 lost its sparkle in the snow

February 7 2018M

After a strong March and April, growth all but evaporated, according to the latest GCA figures for 2017, especially in larger garden centres despite healthy plant sales. Growth in catering revenues slowed but remained positive.
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As a result of below-expectation trading Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland (BUKI), the owner of Homebase, is expected to report an underlying loss of £97million before interest and tax in Westfarmers’ 2018 half-year results.

Caulders has received planning permission to redevelop a redundant nursery at Menstrie.
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Blue Diamond sales flat in second half of 2017

January 31 2018, by Peter DawsonM

In a trading update Blue Diamond said although the group traded well and delivered growth in 2107, the sales increase had been lower than in previous years and the first half of 2017.
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Blue Diamond warns that retail generally is weakening

January 25 2018, by George BullivantM

Blue Diamond reports a strong 6 months to June 2017, but cautions that future growth rates may be affected by economic and political uncertainty.
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Bents and Cowells take the top GCA plant awards

January 22 2018, by George BullivantM

Bents and Cowells top the first day’s awards at the 2018 GCA conference. Also prominent were Fairways of Ashbourne, Stratford and Barton Grange Garden Centres.
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Battery power drives Stihl’s sponsorship of Hillier at Chelsea

January 18 2018, by George BullivantM

Stihl’s sponsorship of Hillier’s Chelsea exhibit underlines their drive to involve garden centres with the new era cordless garden tools, which will shortly be on sale at Hillier’s garden centres.
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Dobbies reshuffles Head Office

January 12 2018, by George BullivantM

Dobbies has reshuffled its head office team as Andrew West and Lorrie Robertson leave for personal reasons. Nicholas Marshall remains as chief executive and Andrew Bracey as chairman.
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Glendale buys Evesham nursery from Chamberlains

January 11 2018, by George BullivantM

Glendale makes it 13 with the purchase of Harvington nursery in Evesham from Chamberlains on 2nd of January.
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Tildenet acquires Fleximas

January 8 2018, by George BullivantM

Tildenet has acquired the specialist textiles and netting supplier, Fleximas, based in Burton-on-Trent.
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A round-up of 2017, a year dominated by Brexit and Xylella

December 20 2017, by George Bullivant

2017 started with a flourish but lost momentum and settled to be an OK year. Suppliers worried about Brexit, the living wage, higher costs and Wyevale. Retailers and growers worried about Xylella. Takeover activity reached new peaks among suppliers, but no major garden centres changed hands. The industry said goodbye to some old friends. Read our review – (open to non-subscribers).
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Bunnings adds a small format store to the UK trial

December 14 2017, by George BullivantM

Bunnings UK continues to experiment with different formats with the imminent opening of a small format store in Bicester.
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Amazon patents a new garden service

December 7 2017, by George BullivantM

According to Modern Farmer, Amazon has patented an image recognition service that will provide gardeners with planting advice and a view of what their garden could look like in say 5 years.
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Kelkay has been sold to Griffon Corporation

February 13 2018, by George BullivantM

Kelkay has been acquired by Griffon Corp for $56m. Anthony Harker will become MD of Griffon’s AMES UK, which also acquired La Hacienda last July.
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QD Group buys The Barn in Peterborough

February 9 2018, by George BullivantM

QD Group has added The Barn Garden & Aquatic Centre in Peterborough to its Cherry Lane Garden Centres group and will carry out improvements.
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Dobbies insists Marshall is still their chief executive

February 8 2018, by George BullivantM

What is happening at Dobbies? Nicholas Marshall is no longer running operations, yet the company insists he is still chief executive. There is a new COO, a new head of purchasing and a new retail director. Gardenforum investigates.
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How was it after 2 days of Glee at the Spring Fair?

February 6 2018, by George BullivantM

It is too early to judge whether the new Glee at the Spring Fair will become an annual event. Gardenforum believes it has potential, with a change of name and focus. Read our notes from the aisles.
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Gardman tackles output problems at Daventry

February 2 2018, by Peter DawsonM

Gardman have taken steps to improve output from its new £30m Daventry distribution centre.
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Bents colleagues happy with their lot

February 1 2018, by Peter DawsonM

Figures released from Bents Garden & Home’s latest colleague survey show a high degree of satisfaction among the staff.
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Squires to close Windsor centre

January 30 2018, by Peter DawsonM

The 15-strong Squire's Garden Centres group is to lose one of its outlets when Windsor closes later this year.

Bents has pipped Barton Grange and Webbs of Wychbold to be the GCA Destination Garden Centre of the Year. Smart Garden has regained the prestigious Supplier of the Year cup.
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Service pushes Woodlodge sales over £20m

January 18 2018, by George BullivantM

Woodlodge turnover has grown from £11.5m to over £20m in the 4 years since Michael Wooldridge took control of the business. Plus, last January, the company won the coveted cup for GCA Supplier of the Year. Gardenforum paid him a visit.
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Directors leave as Wyevale cuts head office numbers

January 15 2018, by George BullivantM

Two directors are leaving Wyevale as the garden centre group acknowledges challenging trading conditions and reduces head office numbers.
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Burgon & Ball is sold to Canadian Group (Updated)

January 11 2018, by George BullivantM

Burgon & Ball has acquired by Venanpri Tools, the owner of the Bellota and Corona brands. Heather Culpan will continue to be involved in the business in a role yet to be determined.

Wyevale’s Ashford garden centre in Kent is to close its doors on Sunday to make way for a new junction 10a on the M20.
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Christmas trading patterns have changed

January 5 2018, by George BullivantM

Christmas buying is getting earlier and overall sales have dropped in many centres, not helped by snow on the peak live tree weekend, closing some centres. Despite this, overall garden centre sales are up for 2017.
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Furniture outlet stores launch website

December 18 2017, by George BullivantM

furnitureoutletstores.co.uk is one of the first UK websites to offer the furniture outlet experience to online shoppers. Their offer includes garden furniture with a guarantee of the UK’s lowest prices.
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Ansell gets green light to rebuild

December 11 2017, by George BullivantM

A year after its devastating fire Ansell receives planning permission to rebuild. Work starts in January, bigger than before.
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Sun 18th Feb 2018

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